Cincinnati Reds' Ability to Tread Water In Midst of Injuries Deserves Praise

By Grant E. Doepel

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday’s news regarding the injury of Jay Brucewas yet another tough blow to the Cincinnati Reds who have been dealing with injuries throughout the entire first month of the year. While injuries are always part of the game, it has been shocking to see the list continue to grow for the Reds.

While the April schedule for the Reds was one of the toughest in the majors, the injuries have forced Bryan Price to still be on the wait to play a single game with his projected opening day roster. Due to those facts, it is amazing that Price has been able to keep the Reds from capsizing in the storm of adversity. Not many teams can afford losing their ace, star closer, MVP-caliber right fielder and starting catcher yet still maintain a record that is just one game below .500.

A lot of focus has been placed on what has gone wrong in the young season so far for the Reds, but praise must be given to Price and his team for weathering the storm. In spite of such issues, the team still managed to beat the Milwaukee Brewersin a three game set — the team with the best record in baseball.

The Reds have maintained to keep treading water on the back of solid starting pitching, defense and a new sense of aggressive base-running. Without the success in these areas, the Reds would find themselves in troubling territory heading into the second month of the season. Instead, the Reds find themselves a half of a game back of the St. Louis Cardinalsand just 5.5 games behind the Brewers.

It hasn’t been the start Price envisioned for the first month of his career, but he has done a fine job of keeping the Cincinnati Reds from falling apart under extremely unforgiving circumstances.